something, say something. (1) Start the Conversation. (2) Develop a Plan. (3) Teach Tolerance. (5) Encourage Self-Advoca
#AutismAwareness
SAFETY CONCERNS WANDERING/ELOPMENT 48% of children with an ASD attempt to elope from a safe environment, a rate nearly four times higher than their unaffected siblings More than one third of ASD children who wander/elope are never or rarely able to communicate their name, address, or phone number
RESTRAINT & SECLUSION Currently there is no federal law that prohibits the use of restraints that restrict breathing, and locked seclusion, in public and private schools. A 2009 Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation reported that thousands of students with disabilities have been physically injured and emotionally traumatized as a result of restraint and seclusion. Some of the Dangers of Restraint & Seclusion Include: Increased aggression
Depression/Withdrawal
Bodily Injury
Decreased Appetite & Malnutrition
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Anxiety
Increased Phobias
Humiliation
Sleeping Problems
Loss of Dignity
BULLYING 50%
63% of children with ASD, ages 6 to 15, have been bullied at some point in their lives
47% of parents reported that their children with ASD had been hit by peers or siblings
of parents reported that their children with ASD were scared by their peers
7 STEPS TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST
(1) Start the Conversation
BULLYING
Help your child understand the difference between appropriate and inappropriate treatment from classmates; and encourage them to share their feelings.
(2) Develop a Plan Bullying can affect a child's learning environment. Your child's IEP can be a helpful tool in combating bullying. Identify prevention and intervention strategies.
(4) Increase Awareness and Acceptance Increase awareness and acceptance through education. Some parents find that if classmates understand a child’s disability, they may become allies or be more accepting.
(3) Teach Tolerance Teach students about the effects bullying has on others and encourage them to celebrate differences.
(5) Encourage Self-Advocacy Teach your child to advocate for themselves to the best of their abilities. Teaching selfadvocacy can be included in your child's IEP.
(6) Learn Your Rights Most states have laws concerning bullying, and some have specific laws regarding bullying of children with special needs. Knowing them can be useful in the event of a bullying incident.
(7) Speak Up Whether a child is being bullied, or is the one doing the bullying, if you see or know something, say something.
SOURCES: (1) National Autism Association: Safety Facts (2) Autism Speaks: 7 Steps to Take A Stand Against Bullying (3) Autism Speaks: Combating Bullying, (4) PACER
